Five Seniors Earn Blackpool Berth

Dominic Dale, Rory McLeod, Fergal O’Brien, Darryn Walker and Paul McPhillips were the five players to come through the World Seniors Championship qualifiers and earn a place in the final stages in Blackpool next March.

They will join the likes of Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Dennis Taylor, Cliff Thorburn, John Parrott and Mark Williams in the last 16 to compete for the £18,000 top prize. The event – for players who will turn 40 by the end of the 2014/15 season – is on March 2nd and 3rd at Blackpool Tower Circus Arena – for ticket details click here.

Dale, who will be defending his Shoot-Out crown in the same week, beat Tony Chappel 2-0 in the final qualifying round with breaks of 53 and 70.

O’Brien edged out Gary Wilkinson 2-1 by clearing from the last red to black in the deciding frame, while McLeod saw off Ian Brumby 2-0.

England’s Walker, a former professional who last competed on the circuit in 2004, beat Jonathan Bagley 2-0 with a top break of 50. Scotland’s McPhillips is also an amateur and last played on the pro tour in 2001. He edged out Craig MacGillivray 2-1.